Pressure dispenser for semi-fluid substances



1955 M. J. BERKOWITZ 3,203,595

PRESSURE DISPENSER FOR SEMI-FLUID SUBSTANCES Filed June 3, 1963 NVENTQ MELV! J TZ l ATT Y United States Patent 3,203,595 PRESSURE DISIENdER FUR SEMI-FLUID SUBSTANCES Melvin .I. Berkowitz, 7800 Later: Ave, University City 30, Mo. Filed June 3, 1963, Ser. No. 285,076 Claims. (Cl. 222-76) The present invention relates to pressurized dispensers of semi-fluid substances, and particularly to dispensers utilized for dispensing condiments, such as mustard, catsup, and the like, onto sandwiches at drive-in restaurants and similar food-serving establishments.

Hamburger sandwiches and frankfurter sandwiches may be the major food items served at such establishments. The manner of serving may be significant to the good will of the enterprise; yet efiiciencies of handling must be such as will permit their sale at low prices.

Because of great competition in the promotion of these items, operators of such establishments have recognized that such sandwiches must be served attractively. Condiments applied carelessly may spoil their appearance; for example, a not immaterial percentage of sandwiches may be rendered unpalatable by the careless application of too much catsup. Furthermore, adding to the complexity of serving is the requirement, in a single order, for mustard on one sandwich, catsup on a second, and both mustard and catsup on a third,

The purposes of the present invention include providing a single dispenser for a plurality of condiments, which dispenses them neatly, either simultaneously or jointly, in a predetermined pattern, and chosen for suitability to the type of sandwich.

Another purpose is to provide a wholesome and attractive appearance to sandwiches prepared with condiments of contrasting colors, without mixing the condiments directly with each other.

Further purposes are to apply either of two condiments in a preferred attractive linear pattern, suitable for the type of sandwich served; or both in what appears to be the same pattern; and to avoid waste of the condiments, of the time of the employees in applying them, and of finished sandwiches readied for serving.

These, and other purposes which will be apparent from this specification, are achieved under the teachings hereof, by providing adjacent dispenser chambers, each chamber having a dispensing face including dispensing openings arranged in a line parallel to the line of openings of the other dispenser chamber, the openings being spaced alternately to each other along such parallel lines, and at least one of the lines of openings being slanted to dispense somewhat toward the other line of openings. The result is that, where a single one of the two condiments is used, the pattern in which it is dispensed on the sandwich may be nearly distinguishable from the dispensed pattern of the other condiment; yet if they are dispensed simultaneously, the arrangement of their patterns will be alternate and the condiments will not intermingle with each other.

Neatness and precision of dispensing are assured by proportioning the dispensing openings to the relatively high pressures at which the condiments are supplied, and by use of an actuating control electrical hookup, including a condiment selector (which permits the two condiments to be dispensed simultaneously or selectively) and solenoid operated dispensing valves which are closed by a time delay circuit. The circuit is so designed as to close the valve or valves a precise, extremely short interval after they are opened; so that the quantity dispensed is controlled more accurately than would be possible by the use of a manual control and human judgment. Condiments so dispensed are precisely directed through the slanted openings of the dispensing head, and carefully deposited on a sandwich in the pattern intended.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly from above, of dispenser apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the dispensing head seen partly from below.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser head of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 of an alternate type of dispenser head; its section along line 66 is shown as FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram of an electrical circuit controlling the dispensing valves.

The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated includes a pair of pressure receptacles a, suitable for containing semi-fluid condiments such as mustard and catsup. Each receptacle a has a sealed lid 12, an air pressure supply tube c delivering to the receptacle a compressed air from a pressure-regulated source, not shown, and a product delivery tube d which extends outward from an interior siphon tube e, projecting downward to near the bottom of the receptacle.

The delivery tubes d from both receptacles a connect to an actuating control generally designated 11. Such actuating control 11 is essentially a dual valve, controlling the flow from each delivery tube d electrically, with a time delay provision to limit the quantity dispensed. It may utilize any suitable control means for this purpose. The preferred means is the circuit shown in FIGURE 7, later described.

On an easily grasped control housing 12 is a three-way selector switch 15 and an operating switch 16. The selector switch governs which condiment is to be dispensed, or whether both are to be dispensed. Within the housing 12 are two solenoids, here designated (for convenience) the mustard solenoid 17 and the catsup solenoid 18. The solenoids 17, 18 operate dispensing valves 19, 20 which open to permit product under pressure to flow from the delivery tubes 0. to dispenser tubes 21, 22, which extend from the front of the control housing 12 in side-by-side relationship. The tube 21, referred to as the upper tube, then has an upward and inward hook-like curve to join onto a dispensing head generally designated 25 at its center; whereas the tube 22, referred to as the lower tube, extends straight forward to join the head 25 at its peripheral nipple connector 24.

As shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the dispensing head 25 presents the general appearance of a thick, shallow cylinder. It includes a top wall 26 having a center connector nipple 27, onto which is mounted the forward end portion 23 of the upper curved dispenser tube 21. Opposite to the top wall 26 is a flat disc-like dispensing face 28.

Joining the top wall 26 and dispensing face 28 are an outer cylindrical wall 29 and an inner cylindrical separator wall 30, spaced concentrically inward of the outer wall 29 and dividing the dispenser head 25 into two chambers, an innner chamber 35 of generally cylindrical form and an outer annular chamber 36. The lower dispenser tube 22 is sealedly mounted onto a peripheral coning it, one for each of the chambers 35, 36. These open ings are in preferably circular patterns, concentric and adjacent to each other but arranged alternately. Thus, FIGURE 3 shows a pattern of six inner chamber openings 37, spaced at equal angular intervals of 60 from center, and a pattern of outer chamber openings 38, equal in number and spaced from each other at the same angular spacings, but separated angularly by 30 from the adjacent inner chamber openings 37.

As will be apparent from the cross-sectional view, FIG- URE 4, each opening 37 of the inner chamber slants somewhat radially outward, say at 10. The dispensing face 28 is of sufficient thickness, say approximately one-eighth inch, that when such semi-fluid substances are dispensed under pressure through such slanting openings, they squirt angularly as shown. Therefore, when two such condiments are dispensed simultaneously through the inner and outer patterns of openings 37, 38, on a hamburger patty, shown in FIGURE 4, they will be deposited in what tends to be a single linear pattern (which in the embodiment there shown will be a single circle). Spread of the material outward of such circle is not great and the alternative pattern avoids intermixture of the two condiments. The sandwiches as served will therefore present an attractive appearance, in contrast with the unattractiveness of a mixture of condiments of contrasting colors, and the untidiness of quantities of such condiments dripping over the edge of .a hamburger patty.

The alternate dispenser head generally designated 50 and shown in FIGURE 5, is intended for use on frankfurter sandwiches. It is of hollow rectangular cross-section, as shown in FIGURE 6, and includes a horizontal top wall 51, a lower parallel dispensing face 52, outer side walls 53 and a longitudinal upright separator wall 54, a closed end 55, and a near end 56 penetrated by two side-by-side dispenser head discharge tubes 61, 62, whose left end portions are curved to spaced-apart relationship to fit the same actuating control 11. The dispensing face 52 has two sets of openings, as shown in FIGURES and 6, denominated the left side opening 63 and the right side opening 64. As shown in FIGURE 6, these slant toward each other at an angle of say 5", so that substances so dispensed tend to be laid alternately in a single linear pattern (that is, by a series of alternate drops of mustard and catsup). This permits dispensing mustard and catsup, for example, onto the surface of a single frankfurter without spilling off to the sides, and yet without merging the two together.

The electrical elements shown in the wiring diagram, FIGURE 7, are mounted partly within the control housing 12 and partly within a control box 65 mounted on a strap 66 on one of the receptacles a. Those elements accommodated within the control housing 12 include the two solenoids 17, 18 whose movements open and close the mustard and catsup dispensing valves 19, 20 respectively, to discharge the substances supplied from delivery tubes d to the dispenser tubes 21, 22. The three-way selector switch 15 serves as a selector to place in circuit the solenoid 17 and the solenoid 18, singly or in parallel, as shown. It is mounted in a forward position on the readily grasped control housing 12; and the spring returned push button operating switch 16 is located behind it A wiring bundle 67 connects these elements in the control housing 12 to the control box 65, shown in FIGURE 1. It contains a crystal diode 70, a capacitor 71, and a normally-off relay switch 72, which they disengage after a brief time interval by reason of the time-delay circuit to be described. For purpose of cleaning, a normallyopen spring return toggle switch 73 is provided in a bypass circuit.

When the operating switch 16 is in the normal, nondispensing position shown in the Wiring diagram, FIGURE 7 (to which position it is returned by a spring), the capacitor 71 is charged by direct current supplied by the crystal diode 70. The relay switch 72 is not put in circuit until the operator presses the operating switch 16. This disconnects the positive side of the capacitor 71, from the charging current and connects it instead to the relay switch 72, which is then drawn to closed position by the electrical energy stored within the capacitor 71. This energy is sufficient to hold the relay switch 72 closed for a predetermined fractional portion of a second, say second. As soon as its energy is discharged, the relay switch 72 opens, releasing the solenoid or solenoids 17, 18 and closing the dispensing valves 1.9, 20.

The relay switch 72 opens even though the operator will not, after so short a time interval, have released the button of the operating switch 16. When the operator does so the operating switch 16 will return to the position shown in FIGURE 1, at which time the capacitor 71 is again charged. By substituting a capacitor 71 of different capacitance, the time interval for dispensing may be varied.

The toggle switch 73 is referred to as the cleaning switch. It is so connected in the circuit shown as to by-pass the relay switch 72. It is used when the receptacles a are empty; on filling them partly with a detergent solution and then with water, and holding this cleaning switch 73 downward and closed, the apparatus will clean and flush itself.

The dispenser heads 25, 50 described might be provided with other patterns of dispensing openings, for example, in additional rows. Other parts of the apparatus described are capable of other modification and variation to suit particular needs. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited by the use to which the dispensed semi-fluid substance, whether or not edible, is put, nor is it in other respects to be considered narrowly, but rather as coextensive with the scope of the claims hereof.

I claim:

1. For use for dispensing a semi-fluid substance under pressure during a fractional portion of a second,

dispenser apparatus comprising a dispenser head having an opening,

means connected to said dispenser head to supply such substance under pressure, and

electrical actuating control means including in circuit a solenoid-operated valve interconnected between said supply means and said dispenser head for governing the flow of the substance so supplied,

electrical time-delay means coupled to said solenoidoperated valve and whose energization limits the time interval said valve remains open when actuated, and

manually operated switch means electrically connected to said time-delay means and by which the solenoid of said valve is energized,

whereby flow under pressure is initiated manually by the operator and is cut off by the electrical timedelay means in a lesser time than could be controlled by the operator.

2. For use in dispensing under pressure two semi-fluid substances in aligned patterns,

dispensing apparatus comprising a dispenser head including two adjacent dispensing chambers separated by a wall,

.two independent flow-conducting means coupled to said chambers, each of said flow conducting means further being coupled to separate pressurized sources of semi-fluid substances whereby to provide separate flow paths for such substances,

electrical actuating control means including in circuit two solenoid-operated valves for governing the flow of the substance so supplied from said pressurized source, one of said valves being connected in one of said flow-conducting means and the other said valve being connected in the other of said flow-conducting means,

electrical time-delay means coupled to said solenoidoperated valves and whose energization limits the time interval said valves remain open when actuated, and manually operated switch means electrically connected to said time-delay means and by which the solenoids of said valves are energized,

the adjacent chambers of the head each having a dispensing face penetrated by dispensing openings, the said openings of each chamber being arranged in a linear pattern adjacent to the openings of said other chamber.

3. Dispenser apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which the openings of at least one of said chambers are slanted toward the openings of the other and arranged alternately thereto,

whereby dispensing from both chambers together produces a coordinated, substantially linear alternating pat-tern of the two substances.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein one of the chambers is a central circular chamber and the other is spacedly arranged annularly thereabout, and

the lines in which the dispensing openings are arranged are concentric circles.

5. A dispenser head as defined in claim 2, wherein the dispensing chambers are arranged side by side, and

the lines of their dispenser openings being straight and parallel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,887,250 5/59 Zilk 222-76 2,955,726 10/60 Feldman et al 22276 3,120,326 2/64 Hedeman 222-144.5

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. FOR USE FOR DISPENSING A SEMI-FLUID SUBSTANCE UNDER PRESSURE DURING A FRACTIONAL PORTION OF A SECOND, DISPENSER APPARATUS COMPRISING A DISPENSER HEAD HAVING AN OPENING, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID DISPENSER HEAD TO SUPPLY SUCH SUBSTANCE UNDER PRESSURE, AND ELECTRICAL ACTUATING CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING IN CIRCUIT A SOLENOID-OPERATED VALVE INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SUPPLY MEANS AND SAID DISPENSER HEAD FOR GOVERNING THE FLOW OF THE SUBSTANE SO SUPPLIED, ELECTRICAL TIME-DELAY MEANS COUPLED TO SAID SOLENOIDOPERATED VALVE AND WHOSE ENERGIZATION LIMITS THE TIME INTERVAL SAID VALVE REMAINS OPEN WHEN ACTUATED, AND MANUALLY OPERATED SWITCH MEANS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TIME-DELAY MEANS AND BY WHICH THE SOLENOID OF SAID VALVE IS ENERGIZED, WHEREBY FLOW UNDER PRESSURE IS INITIATED MANUALLY BY THE OPERATOR AND IS CUT OFF BY THE ELECTRICAL TIMEDELAY MEANS IN A LASER TIME THAN COULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE OPERATOR. 